The very first 1959 Eldorado Biarritz

Hand assembled before the regular production run

A loaded bucket seat car, hand built for a special friend of the DuPont family

After many years in a doctor's barn, this car has finally emerged. The prior
owner had removed the chrome and painted the car prior to my purchasing it. However,
it is now undergoing a full frame off restoration as is appropriate for the very
first of the most well known classic American automotive design. This
may be the most recognized classic automotive design worldwide.

Data Plate (click for full-size photo)

This is 59 Eldorado Biarritz Body Number "1". The frame is numbers matching, as is
the engine block. This is a loaded original tri-power and air conditioned car. 1959
was the first model year bucket seats were available, and this is the first 1959 model
bucket seat car.

According to a well known and respected Cadillac historian this car was hand built
before regular production along with the other pilot cars.

This car is different from the regular production cars for example no x bracing above
the engine compartment and no holes in the fenders for the braces. This car was
purchased as a running driving car. It was purchased very complete, some minor parts
may be missing such as some of the corner bullets on the rear bumper and hub caps etc.

The car indicates on the passenger door trim that it was specially built for a member
of one of Detroit's high society families. A family that a member of the Dupont family
married into.

These are pictures of the pilot car as it was purchased, in solid
condition. I hope to post pictures of the car in its various stages of
restoration, for those who are interested in sharing in the restoration
of this historic car.

The car has been completely dismantled, supports have been placed in the doorposts
and it has been placed on a cradle. As is typical of convertibles there was some rot
in the floors and trunk and we have removed the pans and pan braces for replacement.
There is also rust along the bottoms of the quarters, rockers etc. as is typical for
these cars. New metal had been placed on the bottom of the quarters by a prior owner
which we have removed so as to have new steel formed to the proper contours as part
of the future restoration work.

Frame is very solid, with serial number stamped clearly.

The engine and tri-power units have been professionally rebuilt and assembled. What I
am told is the original transmission has been professionally rebuilt. The differential
is being sent out to be checked.

The body has been partially sandblasted. We are getting ready to complete the stripping
and treating of the body.

We will update this site as each portion of the restoration progresses.